Review paper
Traditions of European Pancreatic Club and the creation of Polish Pancreatic Club

The European Pancreatic Club (EPC) was created during the initial meeting in London, 9-10, December 1965. The idea was to foster communication between basic scientists and clinicians with special interest in the pancreas. It was the first scientific society worldwide which was devoted to pancreatology. Until now there have nearly always been annual meetings, the closest one in 2006 in Tampere, Finland is the 38th. At the meetings on average 150 contributions are accepted for presentations; papers come from nearly all European countries and from overseas. The official journal of European Pancreatic Club is Pancreatology since 2001; previously the abstracts had been printed in Digestion since 1982. The website of the EPC is www.e-p-c.org. The Polish Pancreatic Club was founded in Warsaw, 15 September 2004. Earlier the national pancreatic clubs were created in other European countries: France, Germany, United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Spain et al. The foundation of Polish Pancreatic Club and the organisation of 40th annual EPC meeting in Lodz in 2008 should have the positive influence on the development of pancreatology in Poland.